Today I am interviewing Shiela Martina, author of Hannah and Dexter: The First Meeting and dedicated Children’s Librarian at Colleton County Memorial Library in Walterboro, SC. We’ve woven Sheila’s prose from her essay for children, “What Fiction Means to Me,” into the interview. . .

“It is wonderful to know that authors are people who look for ways to contribute to language and culture.  Authors provide valuable books about lifestyles, customs, and traditions.”

How long have you been a children’s librarian?
I became children’s librarian at the Colleton County Memorial Library in Walterboro, SC in 1996.

What types of programs do you have for kids?

  • Literary Contests (Writing, Essays, Poetry)
  • Illustrate-A-Book Program
  • Illustrator’s Contest
  • Poetry Workshop
  • Book Jeopardy
  • To Tell the Truth
  • And lots of others

“…children should desire to be readers, if nothing else.  It is the foundation of any profession.  A local child advocate once said, ‘If you teach a child to read, he can do or make anything.’  Children should be given the opportunity to explore a variety of genres.”

What do you like best about your job?
I love the interaction with children – seeing their faces as I read to them, when they win a contest and when they check out a book for the very first time.

What are some of the challenges facing a children’s librarian?
One major challenge facing us is not having enough staff to help with the routine tasks associated with a busy children’s department.

“I know that you are young, but you can be an author too!  Don’t you have an idea or a story or a song that is in your head?  All it takes is a creative mind with an uncommon imagination.”

What do you think parents can do to encourage their kids to read more?
There are several things that parents can do to encourage their children to read.

  1. Parents should set an example by letting their children see them reading.
  2. Children should be taken to the library regularly to select a favorite genre or book of their choice.
  3. Parents and kids should get to know the children’s librarian at their local library and find out what programs are offered for children throughout the year.

Tell us what inspired you to write your children’s book, Hannah and Dexter: the First Meeting, and what is the book about?
Working with children for as long as I have was inspiration enough to create a book that would encourage children to act better, think better, and get along better in society.  Hannah and Dexter: The First Meeting is about friendship, different cultures, tolerance and teamwork. Teachers and parents can use this as a tool to encourage self-esteem and acceptance of others.

“Perhaps the best genre to start reading is fiction. There each reader will find his or her like or dislike of the genre and will seek another. To get started on this exciting trek of reading fiction books, the young reader must assume that the author is truly being inventive and expressing or communicating an unusual voice on a subject matter.”

How has being a librarian helped you become an author?
Being a librarian helped prepare me to become an author, because I have had so many opportunities to enjoy reading good books to children. Observing and listening to children’s responses from a good book or a happy ending of a story is inspiring.

What advice do you have for other children’s librarians who are thinking about writing a book?
Don’t give up on your dream of becoming an author. Keep writing and keep pursuing the idea of getting published.

What would you say to a young person who is considering becoming a librarian?
Anyone interested in becoming a librarian should volunteer in a library first. This will give you an idea of which department you will want to work in and what areas you’ll be best suited.

“Thank you, young authors.  Remember these words. The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the smarter you grow. The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice, when speaking your mind and making your choice.”

For more information about Shiela Martina and her books check out her website by clicking here. You can email her for more information: shielamartina@yahoo.com.

If you are visiting the Walterboro, SC area, her books are in the Artisan Center and Pandora’s Gift Shop and in the Allendale area at Salkehatchie Arts Center.

To learn more about the Colleton Library, please visit http://www.colletonlibrary.org/.

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